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Diary of a Policeman
Diary of a Policeman
August 5, 2025
Arnold Odermatt, Hergiswil, Switzerland 1982, from the series Im Dienst (On Duty), 1965–1986, sub-series Rücklichter (Tail Lights) © Urs Odermatt, Windisch/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025
Through a series of coincidences and serendipities, Arnold Odermatt started to photograph his everyday surroundings in parallel to his career as a policeman, which he began in 1948 in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden. With his camera, he kept a diary-like record of his family life, holidays, colleagues on duty and after work, as well as the Swiss mountain landscape and its inhabitants. He also documented accident sites, using the same film and following the same timeline; he first recorded the scene for his police files, then returned once the site had been cleared – this time with a view to capture a meticulously focused and perfectly lit photograph: a still life of the aftermath of disaster.
As so often happens, Arnold Odermatt’s images would most likely have become lost in the family archive. It was only when his son, film director Urs Odermatt, was conducting research for an upcoming project, that he combed through his father’s collection and discovered the true quality of his work. He went on to compile the images into thematic groups, single shots and compositional excerpts – culminating in the publication Meine Welt (My World) in 1993. Thanks to this volume, the art world became aware of the hidden treasure of his father’s photography.
In 1998, Beate Kemfert curated Arnold Odermatt’s first exhibition on behalf of the SCHIRN Kunsthalle. The showcase was held at the former Frankfurt police headquarters, located right opposite the present-day DZ BANK campus. In the course of this exhibition, Harald Szeemann discovered the photographer’s work and, in 2001, went on to present a selection of Odermatt’s black and white images at the 49th Venice Biennial. The DZ BANK’s collection also features works from the inaugural Frankfurt exhibition, including images from Karambolage and Im Dienst, which now count among the photographer’s most well-known series.
Katrin UllmannAs so often happens, Arnold Odermatt’s images would most likely have become lost in the family archive. It was only when his son, film director Urs Odermatt, was conducting research for an upcoming project, that he combed through his father’s collection and discovered the true quality of his work. He went on to compile the images into thematic groups, single shots and compositional excerpts – culminating in the publication Meine Welt (My World) in 1993. Thanks to this volume, the art world became aware of the hidden treasure of his father’s photography.
In 1998, Beate Kemfert curated Arnold Odermatt’s first exhibition on behalf of the SCHIRN Kunsthalle. The showcase was held at the former Frankfurt police headquarters, located right opposite the present-day DZ BANK campus. In the course of this exhibition, Harald Szeemann discovered the photographer’s work and, in 2001, went on to present a selection of Odermatt’s black and white images at the 49th Venice Biennial. The DZ BANK’s collection also features works from the inaugural Frankfurt exhibition, including images from Karambolage and Im Dienst, which now count among the photographer’s most well-known series.
Arnold Odermatt, Hergiswil, Switzerland 1982, from the series Im Dienst (On Duty), 1965–1986, sub-series Rücklichter (Tail Lights) © Urs Odermatt, Windisch/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025
Arnold Odermatt, Hergiswil, Switzerland 1982, from the series Im Dienst (On Duty), 1965–1986, sub-series Rücklichter (Tail Lights) © Urs Odermatt, Windisch/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025
Arnold Odermatt, Stans, Switzerland 1968
© Urs Odermatt, Windisch/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025